Murder in the Studio
by Agatha Christie

Audition Information

Three One-Act Plays

This show consists of three separate one-act plays: Personal Call, Yellow Iris, and Butter in a Lordy Dish.

Each of these plays will be staged as a “radio play”. The performers of this production will act out radio-play-actors that give voice to characters in the stories. Each radio play has its own cast, of 8 people. The total cast for this show is 24 people.

Audition Process

  • We encourage you to audition with a pre-recorded video. These videos will help us organise the audition and call-back days more smoothly.

    • We ask you to read three short monologues in three different voices and/or accents in this video. Try to make each voice very distinct from each other.

    • To get inspired, and slightly intimidated, watch this video of David Suchet explaining how he managed to find his voice for the role of Hercule Poirot: Video.

    • If you’re auditioning for the singing role, please (also) record a video of yourself singing a “loungy” song: light jazz, easy listening etc. You can either sing unaccompanied, or with a backing track.

    • Please send us your video as soon as possible, but latest on Tuesday, July 15th.

  • Based on your availability (as filled out in the form), we will schedule you in for a live audition on Saturday, July 19th. If you can’t make it that day, we’ll use your audition video to make a decision about call-backs.

    • Location: CREA, room 3.08, Nieuwe Achtergracht 170, 1018 WV Amsterdam

    • To prepare for the live audition, pick 2 of the provided monologues and work on 2 distinct different voices to audition with.

    • Please send us a photo of yourself, to help us remembering who’s who, during the auditions. We will delete the pictures afterwards.

    • At the auditions on July 19th, we’ll ask you to shortly introduce yourself and do the 2 monologues as described above.

    • For the singers: please prepare singing a maximum of 1 minute of a “loungy” (light jazz, easy listening) song. Please send us a backing track in advance, or sing a capella at the audition.

    • In July, we will inform you about the time slot and further details about the audition day.

    • In the evening of July 19th, we will send you a message to inform you whether we’d like to invite you for call-backs the next day.

  • Based on your live audition and/or your audition video, we might call you back for a final audition day on Sunday, July 20th, so please make sure you’re available that day. In case you’re not able to join these call-backs, we might arrange a meeting (online) with (one of) the directors on another day.

    • Location: Q-Factory, Room 1.10, Atlantisplein 1, 1093 NE Amsterdam

  • You can download the audition script here: Audition Monologues - we’ve included suggestions for accents you can try.


Important Dates

  • Saturday July 12th - Deadline for signing up.

  • Tuesday July 15th - Deadline for sending in audition video. (But earlier would be better)

  • Saturday July 19th - Audition Day at CREA, Amsterdam

  • Sunday July 20th - Call-Back Day in Q-Factory, Amsterdam

  • Between July 21st and October 28th - Table read, rehearsals for each cast of the three radio plays, and rehearsals for the entire cast together.

  • Wednesday evening, October 29th - Technical and dress rehearsal for all cast and crew members at the theatre.

  • Thursday evening, October 30th - Show 1

  • Friday evening, October 31st - Show 2

  • Saturday afternoon, November 1st - Show 3

  • Saturday evening, November 1st - Show 4

  • Sunday afternoon, November 2nd - Show 5


Performance Location: Polanentheater, Amsterdam

A Pod Cast Story

The three radio plays will be acted out on a stage with a set of a modern-day podcast studio. The cast members of our production are playing modern-day voice-actors that put on three radio-plays that depict 1940’s characters in them. These voice actors have names, back stories, and interactions with each other. These interactions are scripted and will be rehearsed in rehearsals with the entire cast. Below these voice actors are called “A, B, C”, etc. At the table read, their names will be revealed.

The Radio-Plays

Please note: The suggested combinations of voices portrayed by the voice actors might change, based on the results of the casting process and the decisions by the directors.

 

Personal Call
Directed by Sam Aronson.
This mysterious story explores the supernatural. James Brent is plagued by his past, through mysterious phone calls from a lady called Fay.
Actors  Voices  Voice Descriptions
A  Foley Artist  Executes the sound effects during the radio play.
  Phone Operator  Featured throughout the play.
  George  A party guest.
*  *****************  *****************
B  James Brent  A gentleman who receives a mysterious phone call. Becomes increasingly tense and confused as the call reveals a hidden past.
*  *****************  *****************
C  Pam Brent  James’s new wife. Supportive, attentive, caring, observant and emotionally grounded. Grows curious as her husband’s strange behaviour comes to light.
*  *****************  *****************
D  Fay  Enigmatic caller on the phone who irks James. Her tone is unsettlingly calm and composed.
  Johnnie  A party guest.
*  *****************  *****************
E  Mary Curtis  Evan’s spouse or companion. Courteous and subtle, part of the group setting from which disruptions begin.
  Lucy  A party guest.
  Traveler 1  A character in a train platform scene.
*  *****************  *****************
F  Evan Curtis  A friend of Pam, James and Mary. Steady and polite, contributes to the social atmosphere before tension shifts.
  Station Announcer  Featured during a train platform scene.
  Philip  A party guest.
*  *****************  *****************
G  Mrs. Lamb  The Brents’ housekeeper. Competent, discreet, and genteel, helping maintain household order amid rising tension.
  Traveler 2  Featured in a train platform scene.
  Second porter  Featured in a train platform scene.
*  *****************  *****************
H  First Porter  Featured multiple times in a railway platform scene.
  Mr. Enderby  The Brents’ solicitor: Professional and composed.
  Inspector Narracott  Offers a grounded, official perspective as tension grows.
  David  A party guest.
*  *****************  *****************
 

Yellow Iris
Directed by Brian Ligthart.
This story features the famous Hercule Poirot. A distraught woman's frantic phone call leads Poirot to a restaurant, where a man is celebrating the anniversary of his wife's suspicious death.
Actors  Voices  Voice Descriptions
I  Foley Artist  Executes the sound effects during the radio play.
  Luigi, the Waiter  The restaurant’s head waiter: polished, discreet, and impeccably professional.
  Compère  The restaurant’s master of ceremony.
*  *****************  *****************
J  Hercule Poirot  The famed Belgian detective, renowned for his precise reasoning. Cultured, observant, and composed. Navigates the story with gentle authority.
*  *****************  *****************
K  Pauline Weathersby  A thoughtful and reflective young woman with a reserved and sensitive air.
*  *****************  *****************
L  I. Anderson (Singer)  Provides the musical soundtrack for the play.
*  *****************  *****************
M  Anthony Chappell  A confident and engaging guest. Charm with a touch of bravado.
*  *****************  *****************
N  Lola Valdez  A vibrant South American cabaret performer. Brings flair and warmth.
*  *****************  *****************
O  Barton Russell  A poised American gentleman. Appears socially at ease in high‑class surroundings.
*  *****************  *****************
P  Stephen Carter  Cool, steady, and composed.
  Cloakroom Attendent  Polite, discreet, and part of the restaurant’s refined service staff.
*  *****************  *****************
 

Butter in a Lordly Dish
Directed by Sherilyn Caudle.
This tense story contains one of Christie's most gruesome murders. Barrister Sir Luke Enderby, who prosecuted a serial killer in the past, finds his life threatened when the case resurfaces.
Actors  Voices  Voice Descriptions
Q  Foley Artist  Executes the sound effects during the radio play.
  Third Voice  A character in a train platform scene.
*  *****************  *****************
R  Sir Luke Enderby K.C.  A prominent and respected Crown Prosecutor. Confident, articulate, and used to commanding attention. Well known in legal and social circles, he is admired for his intellect and charisma.
*  *****************  *****************
S  Julia Keene  An intelligent woman who claims to be a journalist. Inquisitive, composed, and engaging, with a sharp mind and an air of mystery.
*  *****************  *****************
T  Susan Warren  A family friend of the Enderbys. Supportive and observant, with a keen awareness of social dynamics and personal tensions.
*  *****************  *****************
U  Mrs. Petter  A curious and talkative landlady who manages a boarding house. She is practical and down-to-earth, with a tendency to ask questions and keep an eye on her guests.
  First Voice  A character in a train platform scene.
*  *****************  *****************
V  Florrie Petter  Mrs. Petter’s teenage daughter. She is sharp, curious, and not afraid to speak her mind or voice her suspicions.
  Second Voice  A character in a train platform scene.
*  *****************  *****************
W  Lady Marion Enderby  The dignified and poised wife of Sir Luke. She is well-mannered, emotionally reserved, and represents the social respectability of their household.
*  *****************  *****************
X  Hayward  A house servant or attendant. Polite and efficient, she assists with practical matters such as taking phone calls and managing the household routine.
  Porter  A railway station porter. A minor but colorful role, helpful and observant, interacting briefly with the main characters during travel.
*  *****************  *****************

CREW

Brian Ligthart  Director of Yellow Iris
Sam Aronson  Director of Personal Call
Sherilyn Caudle  Director of Butter in a Lordly Dish
Rae Gerritsen  Overall Production Lead, Stage Manager
Ente Breed  Overall Production
Willem Gerritsen  Stage Crew
Jon Madge  Foley Sound Design
Gaia Temin  Marketing Lead
Sean Olson-Roy  Committee Liaison

Q&A

Please make sure to send us any questions. We’ll share the answers we’ll give you, below.

Questions  Answers
      
I can’t do a British or American accent. Can I still audition?  Yes! We would love for you to audition. Please try to make the three monologues sound like different people. Think about how to make them a range of ages, dialects, backgrounds, etc.
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Who are the directors?  Meet Sam Aronson, director of “Personal Call”. Sam moved to Amsterdam in 2022 and has thoroughly enjoyed being a part of InPlayers, both on the stage and as part of production. When not acting, Sam likes to write short fiction and to test the limits of his 3D printer. You can see some of his quirkily optimistic work @glasshalffullofwhat
      
    Sherilyn Caudle is the director of “Butter in a Lordly Dish”. Sherilyn has been performing in plays and musicals for over 25 years. She earned her BA in Theatre Arts in 2013, and has been part of the InPlayers since 2015. She has directed several short plays as well as assistant-directed two full-length productions.
      
    Brian Ligthart is very excited to direct and bring to life “Yellow Iris”. He has been acting since the early 2010's and has worked behind the scenes in film for many years. In the last few years he co-directed 4 full length plays, and this year he directed a short play on his own.
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Can I audition without sending a video?  Yes, everyone gets the chance to audition live on the 19th of July. However, we won’t have much time that day, so do recommend an audition video to give you more opportunities to showcase your talents.
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Are the radio plays audio only?  Definitely not! The audience will have a lot to look at while the cast perform as voice-actors on stage. They will be drawn into Agatha Christie's world, by the actors' voices, but also their body language and facial expressions.
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